HOUSTON -- Carlos Beltran hasn't used his glove in a game in more than two months. So on Monday, the Houston Astros gathered around their teammate in center field and laid his mitt to rest, holding a mock funeral to send it off. The silly ceremony was held at Minute Maid Park before batting

We still have more than a month to go until the official start of spring, the vernal equinox, but baseball fans go by a different reckoning than the astronomers. For us, spring training means spring, even if there's a foot of snow on the ground -- and no scientist or groundhog can convince us

We still have more than a month to go until the official start of spring, the vernal equinox, but baseball fans go by a different reckoning than the astronomers. For us, spring training means spring, even if there's a foot of snow on the ground -- and no scientist or groundhog can convince us

Let's start with one particular player's "season" stat line: That's a darned good season, right? If I give you the added information that this player was a leadoff hitter who played shortstop, you're looking at a surefire All-Star and perhaps even an MVP candidate. The player: Derek Jeter . But the

So here it is, the last week of December. And you know what I can't get out of my head? Bartolo Colon 's home run. Yeah, really. What the heck is wrong with me, anyway? And then I realize. Nothing is wrong with me. I'm thinking about Bartolo's magical home run because it makes me laugh -- but also

The winter meetings are over, but there is still plenty of the offseason left. Catch up on all of the big moves that have already been made below. Key links • Bowden: Projected dollars and best fits for top free agents • Law: Top 50 free agents • Szymborski: How much top free agents are worth

WHAT: MLB winter meetings WHEN: Dec. 4-8, 2016 WHERE: Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, National Harbor, Maryland From big-name signings to blockbuster trades, what will be the moves that shape baseball's winter meetings? Keep up with all of the latest action. Live coverage • Winter